Published: Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 10:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 6:39 p.m.

Two artists with contrasting themes and styles will be featured in exhibits that open Monday at the Hardin Center.

The artists are Anna Mullin of Gadsden and John “Jahni” Moore of Huntsville. Both will appear at an opening reception for the exhibits from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at the center.

Mullin, who paints in oils on canvas, will show 10 new paintings in an exhibit “Elements: Earth, Wind, Fire, Sea & Sky.” The exhibit will be on display in the Heritage Room on the center's second floor through April 21.

Moore's exhibit, “RezHERection,” in the Kathy Chan Gallery on the second floor, will include 30 of his works. It will be on display through May 24.

Mullin said her show's theme is based on a set of classical elements believed to reflect the simplest essential parts of everything that exists.

“At first, I was interested in the representational view of the elements, in which earth represents solids; wind represents things that move; fire represents things that destroy; sea represents things that are liquid; and sky represents things that are spiritual,” she said. “As I thought about these concepts, I began to focus on the two sides to every element — the good and the bad. For instance, wind can be a gentle, cooling breeze, or it can be a devastating force of nature in the form of a tornado.”

Mullin refers to her art as “imprealism” because it is a cross between impressionism and realism.

“Sometimes people mistake my paintings for photographs when viewing them at a distance,” she said, “but when you look closely, they are clearly impressionistic in nature. I try to capture the essence of what I'm painting, rather than an exact representation of it.

Mullin studied art with Dennis Sears at Gadsden State Community College and began painting professionally within a year.

Moore, who teaches art at Butler High School, is African-American, and Hardin Center Executive Director Bobby Welch said it's a good coincidence his work will be on display during February, which is Black History Month.

The theme of Moore's show is women, as it features paintings and drawings of women as subjects in a variety of media, including pencil and charcoal drawings and oil paintings that feature bright, bold colors on canvas. One of the works is painted on the back of a shutter,

Moore said the exhibit “will take you on a journey to the window of the feminine mystique.”

He added, “If I were to paint from now until forever, I probably wouldn't encompass the mystery of what is woman.”

Moore refers to his art as his “gypsy woman — very colorful and she's always ready,” and said his wife understands that art is his mistress.

One painting has four women each representing the four seasons of the year, while another is a portrait of Harriet Tubman titled “Moses.”

Tubman was active in the Underground Railroad in the 1850s, rescuing slaves from the South.

Moore said one of the pieces that stands out to him is “American Beauty — Ode to Mary Turner.” It is a charcoal drawing of Turner, a black woman who was murdered in Georgia in 1918 for speaking out about the men who murdered his husband. In the drawing, Turner is looking upward and there is a noose around her neck.

“Every piece plays into an overall theme of empowerment,” Moore said.

Another painting titled “Beyond HERe” features a woman in brightly colored clothes with a similarly colored background looking and pointing or reaching outward.

“That piece talks about faith and the possibilities,” Moore said. “Wherever you are, wherever you stand, whatever condition you find yourself in, there is always a way beyond here,” he said.

Moore has another traveling exhibit that primarily focuses on men.

He grew up in the inner city of Huntsville and said he has been drawing and painting all his life. As a child, he got in trouble for painting on the walls of his home.

Moore received a B.S. in commercial and advertising art with a minor in English from Alabama A&M University, graduating magna cum laude. He also received a master's degree from A&M.

After working as a freelance commercial artist, his own artwork began to take precedence and he currently is a full-time artist. He's won numerous awards and also has experience in art education.

The Hardin Center is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission for non-members is $6 for adults and $5 for children. Members are admitted free. Memberships start at $50 per year.

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